Thousands of social welfare recipients across Ireland are in line for an extra payment ahead of the festive season.
The Christmas Bonus is a valued additional benefit for many facing higher costs over the holiday period.
The annual cash benefit is given to people claiming a long-term social welfare payment.
The bonus is 100% of the normal weekly long-term social welfare payment which claimants receive, with the minimum amount being €20.
Some 23 payments are eligible for the bonus, meaning the majority of social welfare recipients will get the extra cash soon.
Claimants eligible for the payment will receive the bonus between December 6 and December 10, meaning it is less than two weeks until the additional funds are distributed.
The categories of social welfare claims eligible for the Christmas Bonus are:
- Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP)
- Blind Pension
- Carer's Allowance and Benefit (including half-rate Carer's Allowance)
- Community Employment
- Deserted Wife's Allowance and Benefit
- Daily Expenses Allowance, formerly called Direct Provision Allowance (long-term only - 15 months/over 455 days)
- Disability Allowance
- Disablement Pension and Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Scheme
- Domiciliary Care Allowance
- Farm Assist
- Guardian's Payment (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory)
- Invalidity Pension
- Job Initiative
- Jobseeker's Allowance (for at least 104 days)
- Jobseeker's Transitional payment
- Magdalene Laundry Payment
- One-Parent Family Payment
- Partial Capacity Benefit
- Rural Social Scheme
- State Pension (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory)
- Tús
- Widow, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory)
The Christmas Bonus does not include Fuel Allowance.
Meanwhile, some people may also be eligible for two Christmas Bonus payments.
If you are getting two eligible social welfare payments (for example, a One-Parent Family Payment and the Domiciliary Care Allowance or a half-rate Carer’s Allowance as well as your primary payment) you get the Christmas Bonus for both payments.
However, the bonus should not be confused with the usual 'Christmas double payment week' of welfare and pension payments that are also paid out just before the festive period.
This double payment week happens because of the bank and post office closures and it is then followed by a week with no payments.
